Unstuffed Pepper Skillet (Printable)

A hearty one-pan skillet with ground beef, bell peppers, tomatoes, rice, and melted mozzarella—ready in 45 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 lb ground beef (ground turkey or chicken may be substituted)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
03 - 3 bell peppers (red, yellow, green), diced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Rice & Tomatoes

05 - 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
06 - 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juices
07 - 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
08 - 2 cups low-sodium beef or chicken broth

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 tsp dried oregano
10 - 1 tsp dried basil
11 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
13 - 1 tsp kosher salt (or to taste)

→ Garnish

14 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
15 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

# Step-by-step:

01 - In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through (about 5 minutes). Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the diced onion and bell peppers to the skillet. Sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened.
03 - Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
04 - Add the uncooked rice, diced tomatoes with juices, tomato sauce, and broth. Sprinkle in oregano, basil, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Stir to combine thoroughly.
05 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 18–20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
06 - Uncover, sprinkle mozzarella over the top, and let it melt for 2–3 minutes.
07 - Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The stuffed pepper flavor you crave without an hour of prep work
  • One pan means virtually zero cleanup after a chaotic day
  • Cheesy, comforting, and somehow better than the original
02 -
  • Dont lift the lid while the rice is simmering or it wont cook properly
  • The rice continues absorbing liquid after you take it off the heat
  • Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving for the best texture
03 -
  • Use a mix of colored peppers for the most beautiful presentation
  • Freshly shredded cheese melts so much better than pre-shredded

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